Sex traffickers behind string of brothels are jailed in landmark case

POLICE have vowed to “eradicate” human trafficking after securing the first sentencing for the crime in Scottish history.

Stephen Craig, 34, was jailed for three years and four months for arranging travel, accommodation and advertising for 14 women.

His co-accused, Sarah Beukan, 22, who had worked as a prostitute herself, was jailed for a year and a half for her part in his human trafficking network.

Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland called it a “landmark case”, while Detective Inspector Stephen Grant said it “should act as a warning to others who are involved in this abhorrent way of life that we are coming to get you”.

Craig, from Clydebank, and Beukan, from Leith, a couple, had admitted at an earlier hearing they moved 14 people to various addresses in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff and Newcastle to work as prostitutes.

Those living in the UK illegally would travel to Belfast by ferry and around the rest of the country by train. Pre-paid credit cards were used to transfer money and pay for the rental of properties, so the women would not carry cash when they travelled.

They also provided accommodation for them to work from, put advertisements in newspapers and online, and took a third of their earnings.

A number of foreign nationals were found working in the brothels, but there was no evidence to suggest Craig and Beukan, who had pleaded guilty under Section 22 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003, were involved in bringing the women into the UK.

It is believed the prostitutes were working independently before being “recruited” by the pair.

Passing sentence at Glasgow Sheriff Court, Sheriff Sam Cathcart told Craig and Beukan there was no alternative to custody. He said that, by their actions, they had “exerted control, direction or influence” over the movements of the women, but accepted that “no pressure or force or threat” was directed at any of the individuals involved.

The operation began to crumble when police searched a property in Clyde Street in Glasgow in June last year.

A Bolivian woman was found to have been working at the brothel, as well as a pre-operative UK transgender female.

After they were questioned by police, it emerged that the brothel was one of many. The couple had been running four brothels in Glasgow, at Argyll Street, Wallace Street and Newton Terrace, as well as the one at Clyde Street.

They also ran a brothel in Aberdeen, at James Street, and one in Queens Square, Belfast.

In total, 23 witnesses were identified, including women working as prostitutes from Brazil, Bolivia, Nigeria, Fife, Glasgow, Inverness, Airdrie and elsewhere in the UK. The prostitutes would leave Craig’s “cut” in jars in the kitchens of the properties.

DI Grant, of Strathclyde, said that Craig and Beuka were “despicable individuals”.

He said: “Human beings are not products which can ever be bought and sold, and this will never be tolerated,” he added.

Mr Mulholland, QC, said: “This is a landmark conviction for human trafficking in Scotland and represents the success of close working between police and prosecutors across the UK.”